Will my toothache go away

A toothache may temporarily settle, but pain from decay, a cracked tooth, or infection usually needs treatment of its underlying cause.

Tooth pain can arise from inflamed pulp inside the tooth, exposed dentin, a damaged filling, a crack, gum inflammation, or pressure around an erupting tooth. Pain stopping does not prove the pulp or infection has recovered.

Rinse gently, keep food away from the sore area, avoid very hot or cold triggers, and use pain relief only as directed for you. Do not put chemicals or aspirin on the tooth or rely on antibiotics without a dental diagnosis.

Arrange an examination for pain that persists, returns, wakes you, hurts on biting, or reacts strongly to temperature. Facial swelling, fever, pus, or difficulty breathing or swallowing requires urgent care.

Ask which tooth is causing the pain, whether testing and an X-ray show decay or pulp inflammation, and whether the treatment is a filling, crown, root canal treatment, extraction, or gum care.